Joseph J Vecchio's Obituary
Joseph J. Vecchio, 86, a resident of Fort Myers Beach, FL since 1984, formerly of Lake Hopatcong, NJ passed away with his loving family by his side on Sunday, May 14, 2023. He was born July 8, 1936 in Westfield, NJ to the late Angelo and Mary (nee Simonetti) Vecchio.
The first in his family to graduate from college, Joe was Class of 1960 at Rutgers University, New Jersey, where he earned a JD. He practiced general, zoning, planning, and real estate law. His undergraduate degree was in American Literature, which meant a lifetime of reading alongside his daughter, raising her with America’s greatest poets, authors, philosophers, and songwriters.
Joe’s background in law and literature meant he was an exceptional debater and humorous storyteller, however, his greatest talent was in woodworking. He designed and built entire rooms of furniture, all the kitchen cutting blocks and boards, as well as the stairs and other details for the home he and Diane designed. As generous hosts, all their homes were known as social epicenters for neighbors and friends, regularly hosting both planned and spontaneous happy hours, dinners and parties.
He and his wife enjoyed seeing the world from Alaska to Antarctica and numerous warm-weather places in between; they especially loved traveling on cruise ships. Joe spent his life living near his beloved water. In New Jersey he lived on an island in Lake Hopatcong and then alongside the Florida Gulf for 40 years. He had a Master Captain’s license and especially loved fishing in the Keys, both Florida coasts, and Mexico.
Joe is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Diane Vecchio of Fort Myers Beach, FL and one daughter, Marji Vecchio of Reno and Baltimore.
A Memorial Service will be held 1:30 PM, Thursday, May 18, 2023 at Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, 1589 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers, FL. The family will receive friends for a time of visitation from 1:00 PM until the service time at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, www.donate.cancer.org in loving memory of Joseph “Joe” Vecchio.
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